I think it’s time to move BP out of the #4 hole. Man, he and Joey have contributed nothing this series so far. I appreciate Jay’s approach – always hustling and playing hard, whether he is hot or cold. Not so much for our other “leaders”.

I think it’s time to move BP out of the #4 hole. Man, he and Joey have contributed nothing this series so far. I appreciate Jay’s approach – always hustling and playing hard, whether he is hot or cold. Not so much for our other “leaders”.

Izturis WILL start tomorrow, and I’m not saying that for effect. It’s probably not a bad move, either. I agree with Toledo, this team isn’t going to beat Wainwright, I’d just rest guys. Heck, after Joey’s brain toot last night, I joked he might beat the team to Denver: I’d put our starters on that plane tonight. Seriously. Somebody will pull a Holiday (just now) and possibly risk losing the season. No need for that.

We all know Baker isn’t going to be fired, but wouldn’t it be fascinating if it happened? Would the players revolt, or would they actually start playing better? Would the lineup change significantly, or would Price (let’s assume) stick with Dusty’s nonsense for the rest of the year, so as not to offend anyone? Would we actually see a little discipline from time to time? Would our manager actually get thrown out of a game to make a point? It would make this season so much more interesting.

@Steve Mancuso: Yes, I think he’d have that message, but I also think he’d run the risk of alienating the Baker-loyalists if he makes too many drastic changes too soon. I could imagine him sort of tinkering at first, trying to say “I’m making changes,” but nothing that looks like he’s trying to be the anti-Dusty. Of course I barely know anything about the man other than he seems to be an excellent pitching coach.

@Baseclogger: Interesting. There’d be no revolt, or reaction. That’s what Dusty taught ‘em. No emotion. But, yes, they would start playing better. Research what happens to a NBA teams performance, whenever a new coach is hired. I’d predict a similar response, at least, short term, within the season. It’s like a weight is lifted off their backs. But when the honeymoon is over, the manager’s influence will be felt, good or bad.

@wildwestLV: But these guys really do seem to LOVE Baker (for all the wrong reasons, I think), and they are at the moment a playoff team, so I think there could be some serious resentment if he’s fired now. (I feel like I’m doing a Reds broadcast, and now just looking for my “B” material.)

@Baseclogger: No, but look what happened last year when he went into the hospital: Reds played LIGHTS OUT. They said a few nice things about Dusty in the post-game comments, but played LIGHTS OUT. Weight was lifted OFF THEIR SHOULDERS. When he came back? Well, how’d they respond to the Giants, in the NLDS? ‘Nuff said.

@Baseclogger: Honestly, what I believe may happen is, after Baker goes, we may try to scrap something together without making wholesale changes. But, then, after a couple of seasons, with all the players missing their good friends, instead of playing hard like they should be, the club will finally have a firesale and start it over from scratch, keeping a couple of pieces to build around.

We all have to hope that this doesn’t last much longer. This team looks deflated. That Grand Slam did something to them. They dont look like they have it. I said it before its like a boxer getting knocked out in a match.

@Johnu1: Honestly? This game says more about the Cardinals then the Reds. I would much rather face the Cards in a one-game WC than anyone else. Anyone can get lucky for 1 game. Taking a 5 or 7-game series from this team is not doable. Unless they get a ton of injuries.

Give you one guess who’s second in the NL is fewest K’s? The Cards. The Reds are in 11th place there. The Reds are on pace to K just as many times as they did last season, which was an increase over the prior season, which was an increase over the season prior to that, which was an increase over the season prior to that, etc., etc., etc.

@Hunt4RedsOctober: A collapse is certainly possible. After we get our tails handed to us again tomorrow we go to Denver for 3 in the chamber of horrors that is Coors Field. Then back home for 4 against the Cards and 3 against the Dodgers. The makings of a disaster are certainly in place.

I keep giving up on them and yet I keep coming back. Perhaps I’m just a glutton for punishment.

This series is making me a lot angrier than I’ve been in a while–probably because every time in the past this season where the Reds have been shellacked by the Cardinals I’ve told myself “OK, that sucked, but there’s X more games left.” We’re running out of games. And it’s against the stupid, cocky, whiney, smug cardinals. Sorry.

@ToledoRedsFan: AThat’s not what I see. I see a professional, serious, competent, determined, confident bunch that is hell bent on destroying their opponents. It would be great if we had more of those traits.

@ToledoRedsFan: AThat’s not what I see.I see a professional, serious, competent, determined, confident bunch that is hell bent on destroying their opponents.It would be great if we had more of those traits.

I agree. It’s about time we grew up as fans and got off the WLB’s meme just because we don’t like their attitude. These guy have swagger down to an art form and they back it up with good organization, solid coaching, and a system that works. What’s wrong in Cincy is that the Reds have pawned off a “nice guy” attitude that’s just Baker being a players manager. Honestly, I’d like to win something and be liable for jerk behavior later on.

@CharlotteNCRedsFan: I’d love for them to be a better team. The qualities you listed make the cardinals a better team, sure, but those qualities are not unique to the Cardinals. But you talk to your average cardinal fan and there’s something soooo special about St. Louis, its fans, its tradition, it’s history. They’re better than you, don’t you see? THAT’S the kind of BS that drives me batty. So yes, I’d love for the Reds to display some characteristics that the CArdinals happen to possess. My point is that the Cardinals ALSO happen to be smug and self-righteous. just one man’s opinion though.

First time in all my years of following baseball (I watched Wally Post, Gus Bell and Vada Pinson play at Crosley Field) that I have a team just up and quit. Simon would have walked off the field before 3 outs if he could have, he definitely wanted to.

First time in all my years of following baseball (I watched Wally Post, Gus Bell and Vada Pinson play at Crosley Field) that I have a team just up and quit. Simon would have walked off the field before 3 outs if he could have, he definitely wanted to.

Dude, I recall Frank Robinson’s rookie year and a lot of bad Reds teams along the way. I never saw one that frustrated me as bad as this one, the ’82 debacle being the exception.

Baker is supposedly “old-school,” right? What would an old-school manager do after a performance like this? Whatever it is, I’m willing to bet Baker won’t do it. I stand by assessment that he’s just not willing to work for it. He wants to win, sure, but he basically just hopes it happens somehow without actually having to take any action.

I’ve said before, Bakerman is the ultimate “utility fielder” of managers. Teams will go out and specifically look for one. But, ultimately to the success of the team, they really don’t mean anything to the success of the team. And, that “utility fielder” knowing his role isn’t going to work any harder to maintain his role. That “utility fielder” isn’t going to press any starter to get better or “I will take your spot from you”. So, how would the team get better? They would have to go out and get better players, since the “utility fielder” can’t press any players to get any better.

Theyve been phoning it in for 2 or 3 seasons now. Thats what sucks, they can be this bored and go over .500 imagine if they just had some spark or some energy or someone to rally them. They might get somewhere post-season. Theyre just all lifeless stoned faced lumps who swing away like they want to get it over with. Phillips is the only one you even catch getting into it now and then.

@ericincognita: Honestly, that’s what I’ve seen, literally for the last 2-3 seasons myself. I see more energy from a high school baseball team. I don’t know if this team knows what “light a fire” means. Do any of these players know what it means to “make an adjustment”?

@Johnu1: probably would be inclined to agree with you, but i can dream right? lol I mean big bob HAS to keep this momentum going with the reds and the fans right? I mean it took 3 years of winning to get fans into the seats after 15 years or losing. Negative momentum at this point could be really bad.

@zab1983: Winter will change all this that we observed tonight and last night. When March comes around, the sunshine seekers will have the Reds perched high atop the leader board, with all the players back and healthy, plus the exciting new speedster … the fans will buy it. They will forget because they don’t care about Brook Jacoby. By April, when O.D. hits the Q.C., all will be Rosy Red again. Nothing will change.

@ericincognita: Not even a playoff appearance. I believe, pending the Colorado outcome (probably not good), this organization will retreat to the “injuries” (watch, they’ll include Nick Massett in the “rundown”) explanation for this season. Dusty will be back, so will Jacoby. Don’t expect any kind of shakeup, please.

@zab1983: I recall the 1961 pennant and, even though the Yanks hammered the Reds, it was the most exciting moment of my life. Even the BRM years couldn’t touch ’61. I doubt I will approach that with this team but honestly, I am quite disappointed in the lack of leadership and enthusiasm that these guys have shown since the Milwaukee series. This is downright shameful and an insult to the fans.

@Johnu1: I haven’t seen enthusiasm from this team for the last 2-3 seasons, if not longer. There is none. But, with Bakerman, there is no enthusiasm. It will have to come from the players. But, when a player displays some, Bakerman talks them back down. Votto cusses; Bakerman talks him down. Devin gets fired up; he sits the rest of the season. Why get fired up? The Bakerman is just going to punish you for getting fired up and trying to light a fire under the team.

@steveschoen: Well, as I mentioned earlier today, getting fired up is one thing, just playing better baseball something else. That’s up to the players. The Cardinals obviously are fired up. it’s not like they have a 12-game lead over anybody. They bring their game to the ballpark. The Reds do not. They didn’t after the road trip, came home to GAB to play the Cardinals the last time — and got their heads handed to them. I agree that Baker is a downer but if the players can’t bring their damned game against a team that was a series sweep ahead of them, fat chance a manager named Jesus could fix that.

@steveschoen: He also fails to exhibit any sort of personal responsibility. Nobody seems to remember one instance of Baker saying “I screwed up” or “I need to manage better,” or anything even remotely like that. He blames his “pupils,” injuries, tough luck, the opponent, the fans, the media, etc. Never takes any responsibility for a loss, or for anything that goes wrong. I don’t know if that has any effect on the players, but it can’t possibly help.